Drawbar stay for tractors



Nov. 1-1, 1952 E. HADLOCK 2,617,660

DRAWBAR STAY FOR TRACTORS Filed June a, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORV bestew'fl;fiadlock ATTORNEY Nov. 11, 1952 Filed June 8, 1950 E. HADLocK 2,617,660

DRAWBAR s'my FOR TRACTORS s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY INVENT OR LQStGrRHadZQQE.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 aumreo STATES PATENT omen Lester Elliot Hadlock, Kingsville, Ohio Application June 8, 1950, Serial No. 166,905

Claims. (01. 28033.44)

My invention relates to drawbar stays for use in connection with the drawbar of a hitch device for a tractor.

Important objects of the invention is to provide drawbar stays which are applied to the tractor and connected with the drawbar, when the tractor is usedfor pulling trailing loads, and remain upon the tractor during the pulling of the trailing loads and the adjustment of the drawbar by the hydraulic device, thus dispensingwith the necessity of removing the drawbar stays to permit of the operation of the hydraulic device and the subsequent replacing of the drawbar stays in position upon the tractor; to provide drawbar stays having a long range of adjustability, thus permitting the hydraulic de vice to move the drawbar to the uppermost or lowermost position, while the drawbar stays are in position; to provide drawbar stays which are adapted to be suitably longitudinally adjusted and then looked against further longitudinal movement for securely supporting the drawbar and its load against downward movement and perceptable upward movement; to provide drawbar stays having adjustable locking means which may be manipulated conveniently by the operator upon the seat of the tractor; to provide drawbar stays which are reversible so that the pins are supported upon the inner sides of the drawbar stays in convenient reach of the operator upon the seat of the tractor; and to provide drawbar stays which are of simplified construction, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tractor and drawbar device or hitch and my improved drawbar stays applied thereto,

' Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tractor, the near wheel being removed,

Figure 3 is a plan view of one drawbar stay embodying my invention,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

':Figure 5 is a plan view of a drawbar stay embodying a second modification of my invention,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan view of a drawbar stay embodying a third modification of my invention,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 88 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 isa plan view of a drawbar stay embodying a fourth form of my invention, and

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

In the drawings where for the purpose'of illustration is shown preferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral I5 designates a Ferguson. tractor, comprising a rear axle housing [6, supported by traction wheels l1. A difierential housing I 8 is secured to the rear axle housing l6, and is provided at its top with apertured bosses l9 and 20, receiving a transverse pin 2|. The tractorhasthe operators seat 22 arranged near and above the rear axle housing l6;

The drawbar device or hitch comprises adrawbar 23, horizontally arranged at the rear of the tractor and extending transversely thereof. This drawbar'hitch has openings 24 for attachment to the trailing load or loads. provided at its ends with shafts 25, removably mounted within bearings 26 carried by vertically swinging arms 21, pivotally mounted upon the housing l8, as shown at 28. The'shafts 25 are retained within the bearings 26 by removable pins 29.

The tractor is provided with a hydraulic device to raise and lower the arms 21, and this hydraulic device includes a vertically swinging arm 30, pivotally connected with a link 3 I, pivoted to one arm 21. This is the conventional Ferguson tractor and hitch or drawbar device shown in Patent 2,461,885. r

I provide drawbar stays 32, Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. Each drawbar stay 32 comprises atube 33 provided at its upper end with an apertured knuckle 34, integral therewith. Mounted to slide within the tube 33 is a shaft 35, provided at its rear end with an apertured knuckle 36. The knuckle 34 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube 33 and the knuckle 36 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 35, and the knuckles 34 and 36 are parallel.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the tube 33 are brackets or knuckles 31, receiving between, them a vertically swinging pawl 38, pivoted thereto by a pin 39. The pawl 38 is arranged at the top of the tube 33, when the drawbar stay is in use. which is rectangular, as shown, including a straight end 4| and a straight shoulder 42. The end 40 operates within an opening 43 formed in the tube 33, as shown. The end 40 is adapted to be inserted into recesses or notches, formed in the shaft 35, upon its top side, and these recesses or notches are longitudinally spaced and are rectangular in longitudinal and transverse sections.

Slidably mounted upon the tube 33 above the brackets or knuckles-31 is a locking sleeve 45, adapted to engage over the end 40, to lock .the pawl 38 in the holding position, or to move downwardly beneath the end face (4| of ,the' pawl,

when the end of the pawl is moved out of the re-,

The drawbar 23 is,

The pawl 38 has an end or nose 4!],v

In use, Figure 1, the drawbar stays have their rear knuckles 36 applied to the shafts inwardly of the bearings 26, and the forward knuckles 34 are applied to the pin 2|, and spacing sleeves 4B are mounted upon the pin 2|, as shown. The drawbar stays 32 are vertically inclined and extend longitudinally of the hitch or drawbar device and converge forwardly. The locking sleeves 45 are arranged forwardly, and thesesleeves, and the pawls 38 may be grasped by the operator upon the seat 22, without leaving the seat. The pawls 38 may be raised so that the locking sleeves 45 will move downwardly beneath the end faces 4|, and the locking sleeves will then hold the pawls 38 in the outer or inactive position. The shafts are then free to slide within. the tubes 33. The range of adjustment of th drawbar stays 32 is such that the drawbar 23 may be raised or lowered by the hydraulic device throughout the entire range of adjustment, while the drawbar stays are attached to the drawbar and tractor. When the drawbar 23 is adjusted to the desired elevation, each sleeve is moved upwardly or forwardly and the end 45 of the pawl will drop into the selected notch or recess 44. The sleeve 45 is released and it will gravitate to the lowered position and will engage over the shoulder 42, thus locking the pawl in the closed or holding position. The pawl will now lock the shaft 35 with the tube 33v against. perceptible relative longitudinal movement. The adjusted drawbar stays 32 will now positively support the drawbar 23 in the adjusted, position, and will also hold it against perceptible upward movement, and the pressure may now be re leased from the hydraulic device.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a modified form of drawbar stay, including a shaft 35', corresponding to the shaft 35, and having the apertured knuckle 35. The same tube 33 is used, having the apertured knuckle 34. A pawl 46 is provided, arranged between the brackets 31, and pivoted thereto by the pin 39. Pawl 46 operates within the opening 43, and is adapted to engage within notches 41 of ratchet teeth 48, facing rearwardly or downwardly, and formed upon the shaft 35, in a longitudinal group at the top of the shaft. The same sleeve 45 is used.

In the use of the drawbar stay shown in Figures 5 and 6, two of these stays are arranged as shown in connection with the stays 32, Figure 1.

The pair of stays, Figure 5, are connected with the drawbar 23 and the shaft 2| through the medium of the knuckles 33 and 34 respectively. When the drawbar stays, Figure 5, are thu applied in place, the operator sitting upon the seat 22 may raise the pawl 46 out of engagement with the ratchet tooth 48 and the sleeve 45 will drop to the lowered position beneath the pawl, holding the pawl in the outer or releasing position. The hydraulic device may now be manipulated to raise or lower the drawbar 23 and when the desired elevation is obtained, the operator upon the seat 22 will move each sleeve 45 forwardly; whereby the pawl 46 will drop to the lowered position and engage the selected ratchet tooth 48. The p-awls 46 will then lock the shafts 35' against rearward or downward movement with respect to the tubes 33, and the drawbar stays will positively support the drawbar or the load against downward movement. f

In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a third modified form of drawbar stay. This drawbar stay comprises a tube49, corresponding to the tube 33, and having a forward apertured knuckle 50 to be mounted upon a pin 2|. Mounted to slide in th tube 49 is a shaft 5|, having an apertured knuckle 52 to be mounted upon the shaft 25, like knuckle 36. The tube 49 is provided with transverse pairs of openings 53, and these pairs of openings are longitudinally spaced. Each pair of openings 53 is adapted to receive a pin 54, secured to a flexible element or chain 55, attached to appertured lug or bracket 56, welded to the tube 49 or stamped therefrom.

In use, two of the drawbar stays shown in Figures 7 and 8 are arranged in accordance with the arrangement of the drawbar stays 32, in Figure l. The apertured knuckles 52 receive the shafts 25 and the apertured knuckles 50 receive the pin 2|. The operator upon the seat 22, may remove each pin 54 from within the selected pair of openings 53, and when this is done, the hydraulic device may be employed to raise or lower the drawbar 23 to the selected position. The shaft 5| has a single transverse opening 53', which will now be brought into registration with a selected pair of openings 53, at which time the pin 54 may be inserted into the openings 53 and 53. The pin 54 may be held in the top opening 53, and the shaft 5| longitudinally adjusted until the opening 53 is brought beneath the pin 54, which will drop into it. It is obvious that the number of pairs of openings 53 may be varied, as found advantageous. The drawbar stays of Figures 7 and 8 are interchangeable and either may be used as a right or left drawbar stay. When the left drawbar stay is to be used as a right drawbar stay, it is turned upon its longitudinal, axis for 180 and then placed in position at the right. This will bring the lug or bracket 55 upon the inner side of the drawbar stay. When the pins 54 lock the shafts 5| with the sleeves 49, the drawbar stays will support the drawbar and load against downward movement and perceptible upward movement, and the pressure may be removed from the hydraulic device.

In Figures 9 and 10, I have shown a drawbar stay wherein the tube 49 is provided with a single pair of transverse openings 53*, to receive the pin 54, and the shaft 5| has a plurality of spaced openings 53 corresponding to the opening 53, Figure 8. All other parts of the drawbar stay of Figures 9 and 10 are identical with those shown and described in connection with the drawbar stay of Figures '7 and 8. The use of a drawbar stay of Figures 9 and 10 is the same as that described in connection with th drawbar stay of Figures 7 and 8 and Figures 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A stay for the drawbar of a tractor comprising a tube extending generally longitudinally of the tractor and being inclined and provided at its forward end with an apertured element receiving a pin carried by the tractor, a shaft slidable within the tube and provided at its rear end with an apertured element receiving the reduced extension carried by the end of the drawbar, the tube having an upwardly directed opening formed in its side, the shaft being provided in its side with longitudinally spaced upwardly directed recesses, a pawl pivotally connected with the tube for movement in a substantially vertical plane above the tube and shaft and adapted to enter the opening of the tube and a selected recess of the shaft which has been brought into registration with the opening of the tube, and a locking sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted upon the tube and adapted to move beneath the pawl when the pawl is elevated for holding the pawl out of engagement with the opening of the tube and permitting longitudinal adjustment of the tube and shaft, the pawl falling by gravity into the operative position when the locking sleeve is shifted upwardly upon the tube.

2. A stay for the drawbar of a tractor comprising a tube extending generally longitudinally of the tractor and being inclined and provided at its forward end with an apertured knuckle receiving a pin carried by the tractor, a shaft slidable within the tube and provided at its rear end with an apertured knuckle receiving a reduced end portion of the drawbar, the tube having an upwardly directed side opening, the shaft being provided in its side with longitudinally spaced upwardly directed recesses, and a pawl pivotally connected with the tube for movement in a substantially vertical plane and including a part to pass through the side opening of the tube and enter a selected recess of the shaft which has been brought into registration with the side opening of the tube, said pawl having a shoulder extending longitudinally of the tube, and a looking sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted upon the tube and adapted to move by gravity beneath the pawl when the pawl is elevated and the part of the pawl passes out of the side opening of the tube, the sleeve thenholding the pawl elevated so that the tube and shaftmay be adjusted longitudinally, the pawl falling by gravity to its lowered position when the locking sleeve is shifted upwardly upon the tube and then serving to releasably lock the tube and shaft against longitudinal relative movement, the lower end of the locking sleeve passing over the shoulder of the pawl when the locking sleeve is released and holding the pawl in the lowered position.

3. A drawbar stay for use in connection with a hitch construction for a tractor wherein a transverse pin is secured to the tractor and a transverse drawbar having ends is used in connection with the tractor for vertical adjustment, said drawbar stay being vertically inclined in use and including a tube having a forward end and provided at such forward end with an apertured knuckle for receiving the pin carried by the tractor, a shaft longitudinally slidably mounted within the tube and having a rear end and provided at such rear end with an apertured knuckle to receive the end of the drawbar, said shaft being provided in its side with longitudinally spaced recesses, a pawl pivotally mounted upon the exterior of the tube and having a free end to pass through the opening in the tube and enter a selected recess in the shaft, said pawl having an outer shoulder extending longitudinally of the tube, and a locking sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted upon the tube and movable over the outer shoulder of the pawl to lock the pawl in the inner position, the sleeve being longitudinally adjustable to free the pawl and then movable beneath the free end of the pawl when the pawl is shifted to the outer position for holding the pawl in the outer position whereby th shaft is free to slide within the tube.

4. A drawbar stay for use in connection with a hitch construction for a tractor wherein a transverse pin is secured to the tractor and a transverse drawbar having ends is used and is con nected with the tractor for vertical adjustment with relation thereto, said drawbar stay being vertically inclined in use and including a tube having a forward end and provided at such forward end with an apertured knuckle for receiving the pin secured to the tractor, said tube having a side opening, a shaft longitudinally slidably mounted within the tube and having a rear end and provided at such rear end with an apertured knuckle to receive the end of the drawbar, said shaft being provided in its side with longitudinally spaced recesses, a supporting element secured to the tube and extending radially beyond the same, a pawl pivotally mounted upon the supporting element and having a free end to pass through the side opening in the tube and enter a selected recess in the shaft, and a locking sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted upon the tube and movabl to a position beneath the free end of the pawl when the pawl is raised to retain the pawl in the raised position so that the shaft is free to move longitudinally within the tube, the supporting element being arranged in the path of travel of the sleeve when the sleeve is moved beneath the free end of the pawl to limit the movement of the sleeve in one direction.

5. A drawbar stay for use in connection with a hitch construction for a tractor wherein a transverse pin is secured to the tractor and a transverse drawbar having ends is used and is connected with the tractor for vertical adjustment with relation thereto, said drawbar stay being vertically inclined in use and including a, tube having a forward end and provided at such forward end with an apertured knuckle for receiving the pin secured to the tractor, said tube having a side opening, a shaft longitudinally slidably mounted within the tube and having a rear end and provided at such rear end with an apertured knuckle to receive the end of the drawbar, said shaft being provided with a longitudinal set of ratchet teeth which face toward the knuckle at the rear end of the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted upon the tube and having a fre end to pass through the side opening in the tube to engage the ratchet teeth, and a sleeve longitudinally slidably mounted upon the tube and movable to a position beneath the free end of the pawl when the pawl is raised to retain the pawl in the raised position so that the shaft is free to move longitudinally within the tube.

LESTER ELLIOT HADLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 300,116 Ocorr June 10, 1884 464,319 Parsons Dec. 1, 1891 783,773 Brown Feb. 28, 1905 1,343,279 Reynolds June 15, 1920 1,783,189 Green Dec. 2, 1930 2,376,716 Odin May 22, 1945 2,461,885 Estes Feb. 15, 1949 

